PASS Upset by FAA

The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), the union that represents Federal Aviation Administration technicians, is concerned over the FAA's attempt to change its certification policy in order to advance its Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) modernization efforts. For decades, FAA technicians have routinely evaluated and tested the systems and equipment in the National Airspace System (NAS) to ensure their safe operation. However, the FAA has made a policy change in order to allow systems and services that are not owned by the FAA to be deployed without certification, including Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) system. "In essence, the FAA is attempting to eliminate inherently governmental functions in order to justify handing over the NAS to private contractors who are focused primarily on maximizing profits and meeting the absolute minimum of safety standards," said PASS President Tom Brantley.